With public money, Premier Gordon Campbell has created his own
$40,000 national literary prize, B.C.’s National Award for Canadian
Non-Fiction, which he annually presents in person at a lavish
ceremony at the Pan Pacific—all financed by B.C. taxpayers. The
prize money for this award was recently raised to $40,000—from
$25,000—matching the Ontario-based Griffin Poetry Prize and
Scotiabank Giller Prize. Campbell’s own national literary award
receives far more public funding per year than /B.C. BookWorld/
which serves 100,000 readers per issue, via 900 outlets in the
province, and has been identified in a B.C. government report at “the most important cog in the infrastructure” that supports writing
and publishing in the province.

It is the most-read independent
publication about books in Canada, even thought it is targeted to
B.C.’s 13% of the population. Now all of /B.C./ /BookWorld/’s
funding via Pacific BookWorld News Society has been suddenly
withdrawn, with three weeks’ notice. The Premier’s book award is
doing fine.

*If you feel inclined to express your opinion as to why /B.C. BookWorld/ deserves to exist, please send a few paragraphs in an email to bookworld@telus.net.

Or you can take a supporter/subscription by sending a cheque for $25 made out to Pacific BookWorld News Society, 3516 West 13th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C. V6R 2S3. PayPal option at www.bcbookworld.com

A great review makes for a great day! My publisher, Second Story Press, forwarded me this strong review from Resource Links, (Connecting Classrooms, libraries and Canadian Learning Resources). BURTINSHAW, Julie Saying Good-bye to London Second Story Press, 2017. 262p. Gr. … Continue reading →

I’ve been working with Amos Ojwang on an anthology of short stories written by students who participated in the University of Iowa’s online course, Writing Identities and Social Issues in Fiction and Nonfiction. After months of reading then choosing stories … Continue reading →

CALL FOR POETRY SUBMISSIONS FOR THE ANTHOLOGY Anthology of Poems out of America and Beyond Boarders Edited by Amos O. Ojwang’ and Julie Burtinshaw SUBMISSIONS GUIDELINES Submissions should be done through Email as an attachment. Submissions, editing and … Continue reading →

I am really pleased with this review from Booklist for my latest book Saying Goodbye to London (Second Story Press) Shy Francis is so stunned when Sawyer asks him to dance that he can’t not accept. “I think we’re going … Continue reading →

I’m thrilled to share the first review on the Advance Copy of my new book Saying Goodbye to London. (Second Story Press) My fellow writers will know the work involved in seeing a new book coming to life! I’m beaming all over … Continue reading →

I enjoyed Assignment 5 – basically I took assignment number 1 and fragmented it. Lots of fun experimentation. Between the offer of a cup of tea and her departure there exists a lifetime of untold stories. You don’t want to … Continue reading →

Assignment 1: University of Iowa Free Online Course How Writers Write I offer her a cup of tea, because this is what her type expects. Of course, she refuses in the way that people do when they want something. There … Continue reading →

I’ve recently signed up for a writing course from the University of Iowa. If your interested it’s free, or at the most $50 USD if you want a certificate at the end of the course. Students come from all over … Continue reading →

It’s hard to believe but my residency at Stiwido Maelor, in Corris, Wales is coming to a close. It’s been a very successful, inspiring and wonderful three weeks. During that time, I’ve managed to edit and submit the almost final … Continue reading →

One of the greatest gifts a writer can have is being invited to spend time in a Residency. Last year, I applied and was accepted to an International Writers’ Residency in Wales. The process of applying seems so long ago, … Continue reading →